Changing to Avastin could save NHS £100m a year

The drug Avastin has been in the newscalling for its use in the UK in a bid to save millions each year.

Popular in the US, Avastin is used for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It has been on the market for years, gone through all the testing and has been proven to be as effective as Lucentis, the NHS approved drug for the same condition. The difference is cost. Lucentis typically costs around £700 per treatment, compared to Avastin which is about £70. Yet red tape seems to be halting its use.

It is currently unlicensed in the UK so should anything go wrong with its use, the practitioner may not be legally covered. However, in times of austerity and it is perhaps time for the NHS to move forward and license its use.